Chargers (10-7) at Jaguars (9-8)
Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla. TV: NBC
Tipico Sportsbook line: Chargers by 1 ⁄2
Chargers’ keys to victory: The last time Los Angeles faced Jacksonville, QB Justin Herbert was struggling through a rib cartilage fracture and completed a seasonlow 55.6% of his passes. The Chargers were also without WR Keenan Allen. This time the team will have its full bevy of offensive weapons, including RB Austin Ekeler and WR Mike Williams. The Chargers also have DE Joey Bosa, who needs to team with OLB Khalil Mack to wreak havoc in the Jaguars backfield. It’ll also be largely up to S Derwin James to take away the middle of the field.
Jaguars’ keys to victory: After struggling to run the ball in the regular-season finale, the Jags should lean heavily on RB Travis Etienne Jr. against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. A healthy dose of QB Trevor Lawrence spreading the ball around to WRs Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and TE Evan Engram would go a long way toward clearing room for Etienne up the gut. The Jaguars need a big game from CBs Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams.
Matchup to watch: Jaguars’ Engram vs. Chargers’ James. When the Chargers need to shut down a tight end, they usually ask James. But free agent Engram broke franchise records in his first season with the team and finished the regular season with 73 receptions.
Who wins? The Jaguars dominated the first meeting, but they’ll face a much healthier version of the Chargers. Still, it’s not easy to travel across the country and it hasn’t been easy for anyone to beat Jacksonville.
Jaguars, 27-23